Flat first half costs Hornets in NCMC loss to Mexico

Flat first half costs Hornets in NCMC loss to Mexico

The Fulton Hornets soccer team managed just one shot on goal in the first half while allowing two goals during that span in a 2-1 NCMC loss to rival Mexico on Tuesday night.

The loss dropped Fulton to 11-12 on the season and the Hornets finished North Central Missouri Conference play at 5-7.

"We had a slow start; the team wasn't ready to play and hadn't prepared properly for Mexico," Fulton head coach Dave Milligan said. "(The Bulldogs) have a good team and they surprised our guys."

Mexico went on top 2-0 with goals in the 7th and 29th minutes of the first half. The Hornets answered with their only goal in the 9th minute of the second half when sophomore midfielder Brian McCarty scored off an assist from fellow sophomore midfielder Peter Plakorus.

Fulton ended up with nine shots on goal and six corner kicks. The Bulldogs countered with four shots on goal but didn't have any corner kicks.

"We were having a hard time passing and trapping the ball (in the first half)," Milligan said. "That made it hard for us to get near the goal for shots."

The Hornets close out the regular season when they travel to Warrensburg for a rescheduled varsity game at 5 p.m. Thursday.

Lady Hornets volleyball team

opens District 9 play tonight

ELDON -- The Fulton Lady Hornets will be seeking a return to the state playoffs for a second straight year when they begin play tonight in the Class 3, District 9 volleyball tournament.

No. 1 seed Fulton (25-8) -- which drew a first-round bye -- squares off against No. 5 Eldon (5-19-2) in the first semifinal at 5:30 p.m.

Eldon advanced with a 2-0 victory over No. 4 School of the Osage in first-round play Monday night.

Boonville moved on with a 2-0 triumph over No. 7 Southern Boone in the first round, while Kirksville reached the semifinals with a 2-0 win over No. 6 Mexico.

The Fulton-Eldon and Boonville-Kirksville winners will then play for the District 9 championship at 8 tonight.

Lady Owls basketball team

No. 16 in preseason NAIA poll

The William Woods University women's basketball team was ranked No. 16 in the NAIA Division I coaches' preseason Top 25 poll released Tuesday.

The Lady Owls finished the 2009-10 season with a 29-3 record, including a 14-2 mark in the American Midwest Conference, and advanced to the NAIA national tournament for a second straight year. William Woods was No. 15 in the season's final poll.

The Lady Owls -- who begin their third year under head coach Dan Chapla -- were picked to win the AMC in the preseason poll released last week. William Woods shared the regular-season conference title with Columbia College and McKendree (Ill.) University last season, before winning the AMC postseason tournament.

William Woods opens the 2010-11 season when it hosts Benedictine College at Anderson Arena at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3.

Lady Owls golf team takes

third place at NAIA Preview

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. -- Sparked by freshman Jamie Palermo, the William Woods University women's golf team concluded its fall season with a third-place finish at the NAIA Preview on Tuesday.

The Lady Owls compiled a two-day team score of 616 (314-302) at Link Hills Country Club. Shorter University claimed the team title with a 612 (308-304), followed by second-place Northwood (Fla.) Univeristy with a 615 (312-303).

Palermo shot a two-round total of 149 (75-74) to end up in a two-way tie for second place, two shots back of individual champion Lisa Person of Shorter.

In addition to Tuesday's showing, William Woods completed the fall season with three tournament championships and a second- and sixth-place finish.